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Treatment for Receding Gums

by | Dec 21, 2015 | Blog | 0 comments

Although receding gums are a common dental problem, many people are unaware that they have it. That is because the process occurs slowly over time. With gum recession, the gum tissue surrounding the tooth pulls back or wears away. This exposes more of the tooth and its root. Eventually, gaps form between the gum line and teeth that make it easier for bacteria to build and threaten the health of the tooth even more. When you don’t get prompt treatment for receding gums, it can causes serious damage to the tissues and bones supporting the teeth. At this point, extracting the tooth may be the only option.

Symptoms and Reasons for Receding Gums

One of the first indications that your gums may be receding is that one or more of your teeth feel especially sensitive. You may also notice that some of your teeth look longer than others do. Additionally, you may feel a small pocket near your gum line with your finger or tongue. People develop gum problems for a variety of reasons, including:
  • Poor oral hygiene skills
  • Hormonal changes
  • Genetic factors
  • Brushing the teeth too hard
  • Having periodontal disease
  • Teeth grinding or clenching
  • Smoking
  • Tongue or lip piercing
How Our Dentist Treat a Receding Gum Line The type of treatment for receding gums that we offer you at Smiles of Elgin depends on the severity of your situation. Many patients notice significant improvement after a deep cleaning appointment. This process removes plaque and tartar on the teeth and below the gum line. Your dentist may also refer to it as scaling and root planing. This makes it more difficult for bacteria to invade. For patients who don’t respond to deep cleaning or who have a more advanced case of gum recession, a pocket depth reduction surgery may be necessary. During this process, your dentist lifts the affected gum tissue, removes the bacteria that has formed in pockets, and replaces the gum tissue over the tooth in a snug fashion so bacteria can’t invade in the future. Several other surgical procedures are also available. To learn more about them or how to prevent gum recession, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Qureshi, Dr. Hao, or Dr. Gargir at Smiles of Elgin.

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